Agents Seize Stuffed Zoo in N. Hollywood

More than 30 stuffed animals were seized by state and federal officials Thursday morning in a raid on a North Hollywood furniture and prop store.

The animals, many of which are on the endangered species list, included a 9-foot-tall grizzly bear, a caribou, an otter and migratory birds. It was the largest involving the city attorney’s office, said Deputy City Atty. Steve R. Tekosky, head of the Environmental Protection Unit.

Selling or renting animals on the endangered species list is a violation of state and federal laws, including the federal Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act, said Tekosky. The other animals seized are protected by state and federal wildlife regulations.

Thirteen officers from the state Department of Fish and Game and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service converged on Arte de Mexico, made up of seven warehouses at the end of a cul-de-sac on Riverton Avenue.

Owner Jerry Stoffers was served with a search warrant Thursday morning, but no charges have yet been filed against him. Tekosky said charges that could be brought against Stoffers range from state code misdemeanors punishable by fines of up to $5,000 a count to felonies under federal law that could lead to fines of $10,000 a count.

“We were absolutely unaware that it was against the law,” Stoffers said. “We’re on their side, we support the law.”

The furniture and prop store contains thousands of Southwest-style artifacts, such as bleached cattle skulls, wagon wheels, Mexican wrought iron and decorative pottery, that are sold to movie studios, Hollywood stars and interior decorators, said Stoffers.

Stoffers said sales of stuffed animals like those seized, valued at $20,000, make up a fraction of his business.

Undercover Buys

But Tekosky said that “it will be our allegation that some of these items were sold with knowledge that they were illegal.” Tekosky said the investigation, which began in December, included “numerous undercover buys,” including one Thursday morning.

City Atty. James K. Hahn said he was “extremely pleased with this investigation.”

“I think we were all pretty surprised at the amount of material we seized,” said Hahn.

The seized items also included pelts of the margay, a Central and South American spotted cat on the endangered species list; an American black bear rug; mounted moose and caribou heads, and stuffed birds, such as kites and a Canadian snow goose.

“I hope this sends a message back to all those who are contemplating getting involved in this type of business, because we intend to prosecute vigorously,” Hahn said.